Overview
BFF or Die is a quirky puzzle co-op game. You play it from an overhead point of view and control one of four colorful characters attempting to rescue all the Orbees through several levels. You do this by running into them while avoiding the mummies and ghosts that chase you through each maze-like stage. If you crossbred Pac-Man with Overcooked, it would probably look a lot like BFF or Die.
It’s incredibly simple to play and is controlled with the movement keys and a single button. Each level is cleverly laid out, so you and your friends will need to work together to solve them. Some levels provide you with tools to use, such as a light to shine through the darker stages or a grabber to pick up friend and foe alike. You can technically play it solo, but it is clearly designed to be played with friends and that’s where it shines the brightest.
Bring A Friend
Playing single-player often leaves you controlling a second character to work the needed tools. It’s easy to control and fun in its own right. Yet, you miss out on the social experience which is pretty important in these types of games. The levels do change slightly depending on the player count which is a thoughtful and nice addition.
The moment-to-moment gameplay is chaotic as one player might be collecting Orbees while another player stays back with the space-time machine to control the various gadgets attached to it. You work together on the fly to solve the puzzles and figure out the fastest and most efficient way to collect all of the Orbees without getting run down by mummies and ghosts.
Each level is pretty open-ended in how you can complete it, and you usually have more than one option. To master each one you will need to be quick in determining how to grab the game’s artifacts. (Sort of like the fruit in Pac-Man)
No one would expect an in-depth storyline in a game like this, but surprisingly much of the dialogue is cute and humorous. Interestingly enough, it also varies depending on how many players and which of the characters are present. It doesn’t take itself seriously at all, but the dialogue made my partner and I chuckle more than once.
The game accomplishes everything it sets out to do and does it well, it’s fun with friends and challenging enough to keep you engaged. The game’s only real flaw is its short length, but after the end, it provides you with an infinite trial mode where you take on random levels in a row and see how far you can get without failing. The infinite trail mode does add a bit of replay value.
Verdict
Despite everything else. The game ends kind of abruptly and leaves you feeling like you were only getting started. Given that time travel is the story’s theme and each level is stylized with an Egyptian flair. It kind of felt like the game was about to switch to a new setting in time when instead it’s actually over. But that’s also a testament to the gameplay, that it leaves you wishing you had more. So, should you buy it?
It’s currently 13.99$ on steam. If you are looking for a couple of hours of entertainment with a partner or kids, you really can’t go wrong here. You can probably squeeze a bit more time out of it on the infinite trials mode or even replaying the game with more or fewer players than before. If you really enjoy local cooperative games it is probably worth the money.
I personally wish the game was a little longer, or a couple of bucks cheaper. But it’s a well-designed, focused, and most importantly fun couch co-op experience.
A key for BFF or Die was provided to Gideon’s Gaming by ASA Studio.
Pros
- Fun co-op experience that values teamwork
- Cute and funny dialog
- Clever puzzle design
- Infinite trial mode
Cons
- Very short
- The Egyptian theme gets repetitive
